The kilt and other favourite pastimes

[Tobus]

"You wouldn't be tryin' to sell me Dominicans in a Cuban wrapper, would ya'?"

Just don't hire out the Dominicans to roll your crepes for breakfast!

[Madpiper1130]

Try to find a local brick and mortar shop that you can sit down and talk with Some one. Maduro wrapper will add a coffee or dark chocolate back note to the over all taste. Cigars take on flavors from the soil and climate in which the tobacco is grown. Find a brand you like and then try other blends and brands from that country. Most important of all go with what you like and enjoy yourself.

[warrior]

I would recommend starting on the mild end. Something in a conneticut shade grown wrapper and work your way up from there. Savor the mildness of shade grown tobacco, take it in and let it linger on the tongue before letting it out. As you do this you will notice the different notes and flavors. Thats how I really began to appreciate the nuances of the tobacco. I have since really grown to appreciate the sweet boldness of a good maduro now.
Just like whisky you can find any level of depth and strength of flavor and I urge you not to fall for the trap of seeking out the strongest and boldest. I know to many who think a good stogie is the biggest and longest ring gauge in the darkest and vilest thing around. I smoke to enjoy myself and not get buzzed by the power of the smoke.
Also find an honest tobaconist who will gently guide you and not just sell you the latest greatest magnum opal super stick. I have found several different bundle grades from different makers that are great smokes. I really like the Cusano smokes if you can find them. Just my $0.02 but I can't stand the acid sticks as I want to taste the tobacco and nothing else.

[Mickey]

That's some good advice from warrior. Starting out with a potent Maduro can be off-putting.

And I agree about Acid brand. I like spices to be in my food, not in my smoke. A good smoke has plenty of flavor on its own, without needed a twist.

[WillieMacG]

I have smoked cigars, moderately, for many years. The most important advice I can give you is ...

A. Don't ever inhale cigar smoke. Cigars are not meant to be inhaled, unlike cigarettes. Instead, they are meant to be puffed, and then immediately exhaled. They are also meant to burn very cool.

The filler tobacco provides the taste while the smoke is in your mouth, before you exhale it. The aroma (the most important aspect of cigar smoking, IMHO) comes from the outer leaf tobacco, as it is gently heated from within the body of the cigar.

B. Don't smoke indoors unless you want the indoors to smell like burnt cigars, not a very appealing odor, IMHO.

C. Cigars, like scotch, are VERY subjective. Find the ones you like and smoke those. Take all "expert" advice, mine included, with a grain of salt.

D. I strongly recommend that you lay hands on an introductory book, or two, that describe the basics of cigars and the cigar industry. It is even a bigger and more involved subject than scotch. Those books will answer all the questions you pose, plus many others.

I agree with this. Also with Mickey who said "Starting out with a potent Maduro can be off-putting." Very true.